- Title: Robert Pattinson takes the lead in Safdie Brothers' crime thriller
- Date: 17th November 2017
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (RECENT - OCTOBER 6, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSH SAFDIE, WRITER-DIRECTOR, ON WHETHER USING A STAR NAME WAS TAKING A RISK AND HOW THE LEAD CHARACTER WAS TO BE DURESS' CHARACTER 'RAY', ORIGINALLY, WITH PATTINSON'S CHARACTER 'CONNIE' SUPPORTING, SAYING: "I wasn't interested in Rob (Pattinson) as a supporting role, I wanted him, y
- Embargoed: 1st December 2017 11:24
- Keywords: Film Queens RPatz Safdie Brothers London Film Festival Josh Safdie Good Time BFI LFF Benny Safdie Robert Pattinson
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA00A77V5KY5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: British actor Robert Pattinson has become sibling filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie's first ever celebrity lead.
"The Lost City of Z" star plays Costantine 'Connie' Nikas in the New York City-born brothers' fifth feature, hypnotic crime thriller "Good Time".
Connie is a small-time crook who attempts to break his disabled brother Nick (played by co-director Benny) out of prison, after the pair carry out a botched bank robbery.
Over the course of one adrenalin-filled night in Queens, New York, Connie finds himself racing against the clock to save his brother and himself, knowing both their lives hang in the balance.
Talking to Reuters, Josh Safdie dismissed claims that casting known actor Pattinson would go against his usual style of using unknowns. He even admitted that the earliest draft was another story with break-out actor Buddy Duress at the centre - as hinted to mid-way through this film - but evolved into Connie's tale.
Pattinson said co-star Duress - a Queens native and star of the Safdies' previous film, "Heaven Knows What" (2014) - was "one of the main litmus tests" as to how convincing he was in character.
Speaking to Reuters at the 61st BFI London Film Festival in October, Pattinson also said the Safdie Brothers wrote an extensive family history for Connie, and he and Benny wrote letters in character as Nick and Connie over the course of ten months.
While filming or remaining in character off set, Pattinson was constantly worried he would be found out by the media. Hence, jeopardising the Safdie Brothers' organic, guerilla-style filming - what they call their 'street operas', scenes shot on the sly often without permits and employing non-professionals and unknowns.
The ideas of freedom from the state and time is the enemy are core to "Good Time", with characters who live in the present, Josh added.
New York filmmaking veteran Martin Scorsese ("Taxi Driver", "After Hours") is working with the Safdies as executive producer on another film project, "Uncut Gems".
Co-starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Good Time" is out on Friday (November 17) in UK cinemas. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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